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Miami ranks #30 per my prep and rest rankings.
They also rank #24 in net rest this year at -6 days.
This is a sharp change from the 2025 Dolphins, who ranked #2 in net rest at +11 days.
The Dolphins have positive net rest in three of the last four years, so 2026 will be an adjustment.
But what is unique about the Dolphins' schedule is that they have just one game with a rest advantage.
One game is the fewest of any team in the NFL.
And with five games featuring less rest than their opponent (#2 most), the Dolphins play a net of -4 games with more rest than their opponent.
They play five games in which their opponent has extra time to prepare, and zero in which their opponent has less than a week.
The net of -5 games when their opponent has less than a week to prepare is the worst in the NFL.
That total (5) is tied for the #4 most in NFL history.
Only 3 teams since 1990 have had to play more than five games with less net rest than their opponent.
The other challenge for the Dolphins is that, not only do they play a tough rest schedule, but they also play the #2 toughest overall schedule in 2026.
Compare both of these to what the rest of the AFC East faces:
Bills: #12 prep and rest, #2 net rest, #14 strength of schedule
Patriots: #18 prep and rest, #6 net rest, #12 strength of schedule
Jets: #13 prep and rest, #29 net rest, #5 strength of schedule
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Dolphins: #30 prep and rest, #24 net rest, #31 strength of schedule
To suggest the 2026 Dolphins schedule, with zero games of extra rest aside from a bye week and five games at a rest deficit, will be challenging is a massive understatement.
